Discover Rochester
Rochester (map) combines small-town accessibility with big-city services. Amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, residents enjoy a housing market known for great bargains, short commute times, world-class cultural and entertainment offerings and a fast-growing innovation economy poised to thrive in the 21st century.
A Great Place to Work
Rochester’s economy benefits from many advantages, including an ample supply of fresh water from Lake Ontario and the pristine Finger Lakes, a central location among the population centers of the Northeastern United States and the innovative foundations laid by such firms as Kodak, Xerox and Bausch and Lomb. A host of colleges and universities, including the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology, produce an educated workforce and generates cutting-edge research that drives the city’s innovation and technology sectors. Rochester is emerging as the imaging, optics and photonics capital of the world and in 2015 the White House announced that new Integrated Photonics Institute for Manufacturing Innovation would be located in Rochester. Other growing industries include food-and-beverage manufacturing, biotechnology and green innovation.
A Great Place to Live
A unique blend of natural and man-made resources and amenities give Rochester a quality of life that is second to none. Straddling the Genesee River between the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario, Rochester offers a natural beauty that is easily accessible by a network of parks, trails, boat launches and scenic overlooks. The city is divided into dozens of distinct neighborhoods and urban villages supported by an eclectic mix of stores and restaurants. Quality housing available at reasonable prices, well-paying jobs and a transportation system that minimizes traffic congestion combine with a wide variety of cultural institutions and entertainment options to make Rochester an easy place to enjoy a comfortable work-life balance. The city’s central location in Western New York provides residents a short drive to such destinations as the Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes region and the Adirondack Mountains. Big cities, including New York, Toronto and Boston are also within a day’s drive.
A Great Place to Visit
Rochester offers a host of attractions and events for just about every interest and pastime, including classical music, professional sports and music and arts festivals. The city’s rich history as a center for civil rights and social justice remains an important element of Rochester’s legacy and a continues to draw visitors to such places as the Mount Hope Cemetery, the final resting place of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre hosts the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the headline acts during the annual Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. The Strong National Museum of Play is home to the National Toy Halls of Fame and the annual Lilac Festival harkens Rochester’s early history as the Flower City. Rochester is also home to many professional minor-league sports teams including the Americans (ice hockey), Red Wings (baseball).